The Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District holds its regular July meeting:
Thursday, July17th
7:00 PM
901 West Main
Johnson City
Members of the Preserve Our Water board urge all interested citizens to attend this meeting. As the drought deepens, citizens have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the District's drought management provisions. We join in that concern.
During the routine "Public Comment" period at the beginning of the meeting Preserve Our Water representatives will ask the District to explain how it is measuring compliance with the water conservation provisions that have been implemented. They will also be asked to explain how they are making certain these provisions are sufficient under the drought conditions now being experienced.
Preserve Our Water will also inquire about a closely related question, aquifer research. Last year the District board approved allocation of $25,000 to begin a well-structured, goal-oriented research program. That budget year began Sept. 1, 2007.
To date, it is unclear that any funds have been spent or encumbered for this purpose. Although a meeting was held during the early spring at which representatives from several area Groundwater Conservation Districts presented details of their research programs, to date no plan has been presented to the B-PGCD board for a similar research program. We will pose the question, "Why has there been no action on this critical topic?"
Understanding the behavior of our aquifers, particularly under the strain of drought, is of vital importance to all who depend on that water for their lives and livelihoods.
Please try to attend this meeting if the answers to these are questions are important to you.
